NeuroPhage names Franz Hefti new president

Kathy Mahdoubi | | Health Imaging | Molecular Imaging

The Cambridge, Mass.-based pharmaceutical development company NeuroPhage, which specializes in novel drugs for neurodegenerative disease announced last week that Franz Hefti, PhD, would take the lead as president and chief operating officer.

Hefti is a former chief scientific officer for Avid Radiopharmaceuticals, currently under the umbrella of Eli Lilly, makers of F-18 florbetaben (Amyvid), an amyloid PET agent.
Neurophage Pharmaceuticals outlines his intent as the new CEO to continue the development of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s therapeutics currently in the company’s drug pipeline and to support new drugs for orphan diseases.

NeuroPhage is currently working on therapies that tackle protein misfolding, which are implicated in the hallmark pathophysiology of Alzheimer’s disease. The company is now working on an experimental drug, NPT088, which engages this mechanism of disease, and a platform for drug analysis called general amyloid interaction motif (GAIM) technology.

"Dr. Hefti brings to NeuroPhage vast experience in the research, development and business of neurodegenerative therapeutics as well as in the use of PET imaging agents to demonstrate target engagement and efficacy in clinical trials,” said Jonathan Solomon, CEO at NeuroPhage, in a press release. “Dr. Hefti's expertise will prove invaluable to NeuroPhage as we advance NPT088 into clinical studies in late 2015."

Previously Hefti was executive vice president of drug development for Rinat Neuroscience, acquired by Pfizer, and has 20 years of experience in neuroscience drug development. He also held the position of chairman for NeuroPhage's scientific advisory board.

"NeuroPhage's general amyloid interaction motif (GAIM) technology has the potential to target multiple misfolded proteins simultaneously, which could truly revolutionize the treatment of Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and other protein misfolding diseases," added Hefti. "I look forward being a part of NeuroPhage's innovative team and bringing these candidates to patients in need."

Kathy Mahdoubi

Related Content

Researchers receive grant worth millions to develop portable PET scanner
Why is the US still dependent on foreign medical isotope production?
Downed high-flux reactor could restart sooner than anticipated
Some nuc med departments are already feeling the strain of the isotope shortage
NorthStar opens facility to assist with development and distribution of vital radioisotopes
Lizard saliva could be key to spotting elusive pancreatic tumors

Around the web

Cardiovascular Business
Positron partners with Upbeat Cardiology Solutions to improve cardiac PET/CT access

Positron, a New York-based nuclear imaging company, will now provide Upbeat Cardiology Solutions with advanced PET/CT systems and services. 

Cardiovascular Business
Global shortage of nuclear imaging isotopes may be over

The nuclear imaging isotope shortage of molybdenum-99 may be over now that the sidelined reactor is restarting. ASNC's president says PET and new SPECT technologies helped cardiac imaging labs better weather the storm.

Cardiovascular Business
‘A huge win’: CMS significantly increases Medicare payments for cardiac CT

CMS has more than doubled the CCTA payment rate from $175 to $357.13. The move, expected to have a significant impact on the utilization of cardiac CT, received immediate praise from imaging specialists.